There have been many advances in home care which allow ill or infirm family members to stay in their own bedrooms. Hospital beds are just one of those advancements.

A hospital bed might be necessary for a variety of reasons. Traditional beds don’t work well with infusion pumps, IVs, or other medical equipment. In addition, someone who is very ill might need additional safety features that a healthier person might not need to worry about.

If you’re buying a hospital bed you need clear information fast. We wanted to eliminate stress by eliminating confusion, which is why we put together this simple hospital bed guide.

What is the difference between a hospital bed and an adjustable bed?

There are several differences.

First, an adjustable bed usually only adjusts the positioning of the mattress, both at the head of the bed and at the foot of the bed. A hospital bed will typically have this capability too, but with one additional capability: the ability to adjust the bed’s height. This is vital for getting patients in and out of bed. This also makes it possible for a caregiver to reach the patient should there be a need to change wound dressings or surgical dressings.

A hospital bed usually does not include the same luxury features as an “adjustable” bed. For example, many adjustable beds offer a massage option. Most hospital beds won’t.

Adjustable beds are all motorized. Hospital beds may be semi-electric or even manually operated by way of a crank attached to the bed. Thus, they can be more economical than an adjustable bed. This is good, since a hospital bed may well be a medical necessity, whereas an adjustable bed is more of a luxury.

Finally, you can find hospital beds that will work with a standard innerspring mattress. It is much harder to find an adjustable bed that can manage that sort of mattress. However, you can also find hospital beds which are designed to work with foam mattresses.

How big is a standard hospital bed?

Most hospital beds are 88.8 centimeters by 203.2 centimeters, which makes them Twin XL beds. You’ll need to account for this when you place the bed in your home. You should also be aware that a standard twin mattress won’t work with your hospital bed. You’ll also need to purchase Twin XL sheets.

What are the different types of hospital beds?

The different types are manual, semi-electric, and electric. A manual bed will use a hand crank and mechanical adjustments to change the bed’s position. A semi-electric bed will use a motor to adjust the position of the bed’s head and foot, but will use a crank to adjust the bed’s height. An electric bed will use a motor to adjust the bed’s height and position.

Keep in mind that a patient will not be able to adjust a fully manual bed without a caregiver’s help. As a result, a semi-electric or electric bed can increase the patient’s independence and quality of life.

Are there safety concerns to be aware of?

All hospital beds come with wheels. When your loved one is in the bed those wheels should be locked unless you are actively rolling the bed to a new location.

You also need to get a mattress cover. This will go under the sheet and will protect the mattress from blood, bodily fluids, and other hazards. This will help preserve the life of the bed. It will also be safer for your loved one, since it will make it easier to clean up any messes.

Finally, you should make sure the guard rails are up whenever your loved one is sleeping in the bed. It’s all too easy for a patient to injure himself or herself by falling out of bed, especially if the patient is used to a much larger bed.

Get your loved one a comfortable, safe hospital bed today.

You’ll want to see different hospital beds and try them for yourself before making a final decision, especially if you are going to be the person who is primarily responsible for your loved one’s care. Visit our Mississauga, ON show room today! We’ll answer any questions you might have, and you’ll get the chance to look over our full selection of fine hospital beds.